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Industrial relations manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical industrial relations manager skills. We ranked the top skills for industrial relations managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.2% of industrial relations manager resumes contained industrial relations as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an industrial relations manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 industrial relations manager skills for your resume and career

1. Industrial Relations

Here's how industrial relations managers use industrial relations:

Provided training on industrial relations and personnel management to all non-union job sites and corporate management.
Provided Industrial Relations leadership to over 200 salaried employees and 500 hourly union employees.

2. Press Releases

Here's how industrial relations managers use press releases:

Prepared briefings and press releases on organization lobbying activities.
Design, draft and release monthly newsletters, marketing collateral, press releases and case studies.

3. Labor Relations

Labor relations refer to the relationship between the employer and its employees. It usually deals with labor-management wherein it focuses on the collective bargaining agreement regarding work between the union of the employee in making decisions for the organization. On the other hand, findings mean the proper wages, hours of duty, working conditions, safety, and employee protection while at work, grievances, and other related concerns.

Here's how industrial relations managers use labor relations:

Maintained all labor relations functions including contract negotiations, grievance resolution, arbitration advocacy, and contract compliance.
Developed labor relations strategies that improved plant efficiency; while maintaining positive union-management relations.

4. Safety Program

Safety programs are a series of measures to protect employees from any mishaps and make the work environment safer. Safety programs include checklists, guidelines, and direct procedures that a specific area or department must follow. Safety programs take care of office space safety, maintenance and repairs, and identification of frauds as well.

Here's how industrial relations managers use safety program:

Coordinated the Plant's Safety Program.

5. Contract Negotiations

When a contract is negotiated, an agreement is reached on a series of legally binding terms before it is signed and made official. Two or more parties agree on the terms of their relationship. When negotiating a contract, the focus is usually on risk and return.

Here's how industrial relations managers use contract negotiations:

Contract negotiations, sponsorship & MOUs.
Major Responsibilities: Contract administration for seven union facilities, contract negotiations, grievances, administration of affirmative action plan.

6. Trade Shows

Here's how industrial relations managers use trade shows:

Represented school at industry meetings, trade shows and associations.
Managed trade shows, national and regional firm visits.

7. HR

HR stands for human resources and is used to describe the set of people who work for a company or an organization. HR responsibilities revolve around updating employee records and carrying out management processes like planning, recruitment, evaluation, and selection processes. HR is a key contributor to any company or organization's growth as they are in charge of hiring the right employees, processing payrolls, conducting disciplinary actions, etc.

Here's how industrial relations managers use hr:

Directed all HR activities for a 1500+ employee truck trailer manufacturing facility, supervising a staff of twelve.
Handled all HR related matters for the acquisition of Daisy Kingdom Company by Springs, Inc.

8. Arbitration

Here's how industrial relations managers use arbitration:

Credited with reducing arbitration and grievances/open-door requests.
Administer all labor agreements, letters of agreement, memorandums of understanding, mediation and arbitration.

9. Training Programs

Here's how industrial relations managers use training programs:

Revamped International marketing/sales incentive programs; and created supervisory/staff training programs.
Bid and won state and federal funds for facilitating job training programs.

10. Human Resources Functions

Here's how industrial relations managers use human resources functions:

Managed Human Resources function for Herff Jones Jewelry Division, which included two plants, 600+ union and non-union employees.
Based on project in Anniston, AL) Managed the human resources function for a demilitarization construction project.

11. Collective Bargaining

Here's how industrial relations managers use collective bargaining:

Represented the facility in Collective Bargaining Negotiations.
Participate in collective bargaining activities - contract administration, grievance responses, negotiation preparation, strike contingency planning, risk assessments.

12. Labor Agreements

Here's how industrial relations managers use labor agreements:

Negotiated labor agreement consolidating 65 job classifications into 4 classifications, facilitating plant downsizing.
Played integral role negotiating a no-wage increase labor agreement facilitating an orderly plant downsizing.

13. Organizational Development

Here's how industrial relations managers use organizational development:

Promoted to Senior Manager Organizational Development
Implement and facilitate training and development programs including focus on diversity, talent management, career development, and organizational development.

14. EEO

Here's how industrial relations managers use eeo:

Authored affirmative action plans and directed corporate equal opportunity (EEO) program.
Ensured EEO compliance, and evaluated risk management.

15. Workers Compensation

Here's how industrial relations managers use workers compensation:

Administered workers compensation and return to work programs.
Recognized for quick resolution of Workers Compensation claims by allying with carrier adjusters and standardizing definitive return-to-work and safety programs.

What skills help Industrial Relations Managers find jobs?

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List of industrial relations manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an industrial relations manager resume and required skills for an industrial relations manager to have include:

Industrial Relations
Press Releases
Labor Relations
Safety Program
Contract Negotiations
Trade Shows

HR
Arbitration
Training Programs
Human Resources Functions
Collective Bargaining
Labor Agreements

Organizational Development
EEO
Workers Compensation
Cost Savings
Labor Negotiations
Contract Administration

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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